Special Announcement - Now Enrolling for FDA Approved Stem Cell StudyDr. Mitchell Sheinkop has completed training and is credentialed for the first of its kind FDA approved stem cell clinical trial for knee arthritis. Our clinic is now enrolling patients in this trial. Contact us at 312-475-1893 for details. Click here to learn more.

PRP for Knee Arthritis

Platelet Rich Plasma for Symptomatic Knee Arthritis

With increasing frequency, platelet rich plasma (PRP) is being used in the United States to treat cartilage lesions, regenerate tissue homeostasis, and retard the progression of knee arthritis. The available scientific evidence is compatible with positive effects in patients with knee arthritis by means of diminishing pain and improving symptoms and quality of life. In spite of these observations, the clinical efficacy of PRP remains under debate; a standardized protocol has not yet been established. The big controversy has been over White Blood Cells (WBCs) and Red Blood Cells (RBCs); should the PRP include or exclude either or both? Platelet Rich Plasma is loaded with growth factors that serve as anti-inlammatories. As well, we know that the target tissue for PRP is the Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell (MSC); the latter having the ability to differentiate into and effect repair in cartilage, bone, muscle, ligament and tendon. As a result, your PRP prompts the body’s resident MSCs to proliferate. Studies show that PRP without RBCs and WBCs recruit a larger number of stem cells. By the same token, concentrated PRPs are more effective than standard PRP preps as you age. So what should you have learned from reading this brief continued patient education initiative?